maggie's Profile
Seattle Cakes
Ooof, there are some bad suggestions in this thread, you'd be better off with Duncan, as in Hines. If you want good, moist cake with non-Criscofied frosting that tastes better homemade and not like it's been thawed out: try Morfey's on Denny. I've been through the ringer trying cake for a wedding...it is the best. And you people need to get out more and eat more cake. Geesh.
Bakery Nouveau in West Seattle?
The fresh fruit danishes looked prettier than they tasted. I used to sell Essential pastries. I'm hoping to go back and try Bakery Nouveau again, but I was disappointed with a dry clover-twist raspberry roll, and the brown sugar pecan brioche was also like supermarket egg bread, sweet and dried out, no real flavor. Please tell me I'm crazy and the ovens were on the fritz that day.
Best Fruit Pies?
Right now at the Dahlia there's a cranberry meringue--super zingy cranberry curd with the lightest meringue you've ever had.
Espresso + Comfort + Privacy in Downtown Seattle
What took over the Torrefazione spot across from Belle Epicurean, in the office building? They have Caffe Umbria (one of my favs)... I love Belle, but for a cafe to "hang" in try that place across the street. AND! There's a stairway that leads to some tables on top of Purple, great in good weather--ssshhh don't tell everybody.
Giada’s new show.
I don't get that show. Is it an advertisement for home-delivered food goods? All they do is say how "awesome" everything is...and everything has a bit of a carnie-food bent. Eh.
I love the cousins comments. I used to watch FN a lot, now I find I can't stand it. But they still have a few bright spots, like Giada'a Everyday Italian and Sir Alton. But that big bash show? How many times can you say, "Ooh, look how big the party's going to be!" "Look how many parfaits!" We get it, right?
Gordon Ramsay's the F Word
It's a cooking variety show. I like it because it gets rid of all the canned patter that's so common. He has a community member chalenge him with their best recipe, he talks to other food media and chefs that visit the dining room, they go on ingredient scouts, and he swears!
It's one of the best food shows, to me, because I'm sick of these perky robots who really are just the same people who annoyed us all in high school. I'm around kitchens and bars all day long, I like Gordon because he's more of what you see in the business, not on TV. And that's refreshing.
Solo?
Yes, very cool and comfortable place. Right now the vibe is more...hmmm... ungrownup grownups pouring for same. Not a pair of skinny jeans in the house when I've been. Music ranged from old to ancient punk and some other mellow stuff that was more bluesy than emo.
Top Chef 2 episode 6
Bourdain was obviously there at Tom's request. Some of his comments seemed pre-scripted to me, too. Although calling Marcel Astro Boy made me spit chai.
Marcel is a twerp, him and every other thermal inversion blah-bi-di-blah 22 to 26 year old idiot line jockey. I'd like to ship him over to Gordon Ramsey's show "The F Word" on BBC America. That'd knock the cocky out of him.
It is so clear that Ilan, Cliff, and Sam are actually, employable talent. The others don't deserve their own hot dog cart, let alone restaurant. Let's face it: the interesting people generally make the interesting food.
Those who got stuck cooking for turkey day? None of those people are interesting to me, ergo their flacid food. Marcel's food may look better, probably because he had better culinary training. But he still talks out his you know what and should have had the sense god gave a goat to wrap that roulade in call fat. And when he pulls out the molecular gastronomoy crap? Can you say compensating and insecure?
What to make with leftover dark rum?
Instant hot-buttered: Shot of rum, splat of butter, 5 spice, sugar, orange slice, and hot water
Use a little hot water to melt the butter and sugar with the spice, add the rum and more hot water to taste.
Inexpensive but good lunch around Pike Place Market?
OK, remebering that it is almost WINTER, you can enjoy the view and the occasional sun break inside while eating the best lentil soup over rice at Turkish Delight--all the way at the north end of the market--some of the best (and best for you) lunch in the market.
SEA: gelato
I second your emotion.
Bottega Italiana's pistachio is not fake green and gives you the full effect of gelato, letting you see why it is superior to ice cream. They also have thick, bittersweet hot chocolate. I'm just sayin.
Searching for the Seattle equivalent of L.A.'s Mexican food...
First off, before taking a Mexican food recommendation from someone in Seattle, pleeeeeez ask where they are from... Seattlites don't know jack about Mexican food (outside of taco trucks).
I miss being surrounded by amazing Mexican food, El Puerco Lloron helps, but isn't quite there. El Gallitio the same, a little too American. La Costa in Burien is a fav and Taqueria del Rio is yum, but sorry: my taco truck is still the tops. People who like Mama's must smoke 2 packs a day--it's disgusting and unsanitary.
PDX recs near Inn@Northrup Station
nu huh, Ken's has burnt their bread half the time I've eaten there. Burnt does NOT equal artisan.
PDX recs near Inn@Northrup Station
When you wake up, you must head towards T & 23rd. (streets are alphabetical and I can't be bothered to know their names). St. Honore bakery could quite possibly make the best French pastries outside of, well, France. Vitaley Paley is a wicked good chef, heads above Basta.
Seeking wine shops/Seattle
McCarthy & Schiering, Queen Anne or U Dist. Great service and anything featured in stacks represents the best of what's on offer. Their palates are beyond reproach. Esquin is kind of hacky. Their newsletter is sponsored by corporate wineries and distributors. It just feels like an old man's garage in there.
Good BBQ in Seattle?
You've got to go see The General. He used to be off Madison, now he's down south of IKEA, General's Bar-b-que 19249 84th Ave. South, past Southcenter. In the same neighborhood (kinda) is another institution--the Caveman (Cave Man Kitchens 807 West Valley Highway, Kent). The Caveman's pulled pork sandwich and Beef w/ au jus almost make an IKEA visit worth it. I find these to be the best of the bar-b-que offerings in this area. Both have a hint of the K City molasses style but are definitely more on the sweet and hot vinegar side of Que.
Do yourself a favor and mapquest these before you go off all half-cocked.
Group dining in Sea
Boat Street Cafe maybe? Right at Denny and Western in the wierd lofts building. It's a beautiful, open, white, cozy space, divided into two rooms...I've only been there for private events, so it seems like they'd be very accomodating. The food is fantastic.
Capitol Club has their blue room... plenty of loungy room for 12. Or if you got there early enough, you could just take over part of the upstairs/outside.
And, in ref to NY Michelle, it is very common for such large groups to get one check, with grat added usually. (it will be written on the menu) Just tell the ladies to bring some dough.
Dinner Rec's In 21-23NW Portland Area
Paley's Place, Italian. Vitaley is a wonderful chef that takes advantage of as much unique Willamette produce as possible.
Sustainable in Seattle
Ferrara on Vashon Island--Italian. They are trying to source as much from Vashon as they can.
Tom Douglas restaurants and other recos? (seattle)
You equate Dahlia to Applebee's and then go on to recommend Ray's and the ever in decline Il Bistro? Whoa. I smell a bit of bitterness. Hounds, I've been in the service industry forever and the Dahlia has been consistenly superior to most other Seattle restaurant offerings for all of my 8 years in this city. (I'll refrain from the "when I lived in.." qualifiers.) If I had anything to say to the poster, it'd be bring a book when you go to Salumi. I can't wait in that line anymore.
Oh, and Howard Pike Place Creamy is THE place to go to refill your saucer.
New and delicious in Seattle?
Belle Epicurean (on the West side of the Fairmont) or Belle's Buns in the market. Did you know that brioche could have MORE butter? Oh yes, it can.
Skylark Cafe and Lounge (on Delridge, just South of the bridge West Seattle). I love this place because I'm too lazy to make it all the way up to Hattie's Hat sometimes. This fills that void. And that is a HUGE compliment from me. Music after 9 on weekends.
Crush is my new "if I had $200 dollars" restaurant. With a bullet. It is amazing, everything--the food, service, and ambiance--subtly amazing.
What to make with leftover dark rum?
Dark rum and spicy ginger ale (like Reed's) is awesome.
OR! Make a lime rickey, fresh lime juice and soda water, maybe a little simple syrup (think TOm Collins porportions).
But I like a classic margarita with dark rum:
2 parts dk rum, 1 part triple sec/grand marnier, 1 part fresh lime. (simple syrup optional).
Of course, there's always lime/rum jello shots.
Must we give larger tips on bigger checks?
I agree with cheaping out after dropping a wad. When you go to Morton's, would you NOT tip on the full price of a steak? And if you just ordered a burger, would you only tip $3 because McDonald's has burgers and they cost way less?
And then do you quibble at the Opera costing more than a show at the Vic, because they're basically both just singing?
A server at Alinea is to waitering as a couturier is to a quilter, as Streisand is to one of those American Idol fops, as a Louboutin shoe is to Payless.
They are at the top of their game, and waiting on a table there is a demanding job. They don't get the 3 turns or 5 table section. And the deserve your respect. Not your second guessing. I'm sick to death of this nouveau-riche, "let them eat cake" argument.
Don't do the time if you can't drop the dime.
or as my dad says: Go big or go home.
$800 dollars???? And you're worried about what? Please.
Making perfect scrambled eggs [thread digression moved from General Topics board]
Slow and low (heat) is what I was taught.
And don't turn them too much.
Treat them like fragile, bi-polar divas.
And then hit them with wicked French grey salt.
6th & Pike, Seattle eats
Woman alone downtown? Palace Kitchen, 5th & Lenora is the best bet. Sit at the bar and get great service. Menu lends itself to solo dinners, too. Lots of action, but comfortable. Le Pichet also great.
seattle: lunch near the westin + dinner recs
Closer to the Westin and giving you more time (4 blocks up and one over), Two Bells (4th and Bell), a tavern with great sandwiches and local beers by the Schooner. Straight down Virginia, all the way to the market, hand a left for Turkish delight and eat with a view.
Chez Shea
This place quitely serves some of the best food in the city. It is one of my very, very few "I stake my reputation on it" recommendations. As in, the food and service are always of such an outstanding level. Too many restaurants in this town, regardless of their local and national accolades, leave way too much to mitigating circumstances to determine whether you will have a good time. (i.e. did you get their only good server, knowing someone, a menu minefield of success and suckage, etc.)
